NFL notes: Scandrick gets four-game ban

Wednesday

Aug 13, 2014 at 2:00 AM

OXNARD, Calif. — Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick apologized to his family, teammates and organization for failing a drug test that will force him to be suspended for the first four games of the season.

Associated Press

OXNARD, Calif. — Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick apologized to his family, teammates and organization for failing a drug test that will force him to be suspended for the first four games of the season.

The NFL officially announced the suspension on Tuesday, a day after Dallas owner Jerry Jones first acknowledged the ban.

Scandrick said in a statement released by his agent, Ron Slavin, that he unknowingly took a substance while on vacation in Mexico that led to the positive test.

"I take full responsibility for what goes in my body and more importantly for the embarrassment of a failed drug test," he said. "It's my goal by issuing this statement to clear my name and more importantly to be judged by what happens to me in the future. I hope that my family, my Cowboys football family and all my fans can forgive me for this situation. I look forward to a successful 2014 season."

Slavin says he believes that if testing for human growth hormone was in place that Scandrick would have been subjected to the substance abuse policy and been warned instead of receiving a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.

"More than 80 missed games, millions of dollars in fines and bonus repayments have been issued because the NFLPA and NFL cannot come to an agreement," Slavin said. "The only people who are losing in this standoff are the players and fans."

Scandrick will be eligible to participate in exhibition games but will miss the first four games of the regular season. He can return after Dallas' game against New Orleans on Sept. 28.

Trevathan out 6-8 weeks

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos leading tackler Danny Trevathan is out six to eight weeks after fracturing his left knee during a particularly intense padded practice Tuesday.

The Broncos said their weakside linebacker has what's called a medial tibial impaction fracture but, fortunately, no torn ligaments.

Trevathan, who didn't put any weight on his left leg after being carted off the field during team drills, is expected to return to the Broncos right around their bye week in late September, meaning he'd only miss three regular season games, at most.

He was hurt on an 11-on-11 run play in which center Will Montgomery rolled over him.

Trevathan, a sixth-round draft choice out of Kentucky in 2012, is coming off a breakout season in which he led the Broncos with 124 tackles and picked off three passes before leading the team with two dozen tackles in the playoffs.

"You just hate it," Peyton Manning said while Trevathan was being examined by the team's medical staff. "You hate it in a game when you see that. And you hate it out here in practice. So, our prayers are with Danny. We're praying for positive results and hopefully he's OK. He's an important part of our football team."

Manziel played with the first-team offense during Tuesday's practice, but Pettine said afterward that no decision has been made as to who will start the Browns' second preseason game.

But it won't necessarily matter, as Pettine wants both quarterbacks to get equal reps or close to it with the first-teamers. Whether that's by series, by quarter or by something else remains to be seen. Pettine said "there's a lot of options on the table" and the staff would figure it out when it meets during the team's off-day on Thursday. That includes deciding who will start.

"Just the factor of starting a game I think is a little bit overblown in this situation because we're going to try to balance the reps with the ones in the game," Pettine said. "Brian came in ahead and it's a little overrated who trots out there for the first time."

Rodgers readies for debut

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers is expected to make his 2014 debut on Saturday.

Rodgers missed the preseason opener at Tennessee that was played in a drenching rainstorm.

Coach Mike McCarthy says Saturday's game at St. Louis is more about seeing what the other guys around Rodgers do more than anything else.

The 2011 NFL MVP might be having one of his best training camps yet of his nearly decade-long career.

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